Pulling-over machine



" June 30, 1925. 1,543,766

' J. GOULDBOURN ET AL PULLING-OVER IMACHII'NE Filed March is, 1922-improperly or inadequately fastened.

Patented June i925.

sra're JOSEPH GDULDBOURN AND WILFRID THOIiEfAS I'IIINETT, OF LEICESTER,ENGLAND, ASSIG-NOEZiEl $0 UNITED E'EihCIIINER-Y CORPORATION, 035PATERSON, NEW anusnr, A CORPORATION 01 NE? JERSEY.

PULLING-OVER MACHINE.

Application filed March 13, 1922.

T0 aZZ who-m it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH GoriLnBoUnN and lVILFiuiD T. Mimi'rr,subjects of the King of England, residing at Leicester, Leicestershire,England, have invented certain improvements in Pulling-Over lvlachines,of which the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to pulling-over machines including in theirorganization upper pulling and upper fastening means, and has for anobject to aid in insuring a proper relation between the upper and thesole or insole in the upper fastening operation.

Pulling-over machines as commonly constructed comprise in theirorganization means for grippingand pulling the upper, means for layingor wiping the margin of the upper inwardly over the sole or insole(hereinafter termed for convenience the sole) and for fastening theupper to the sole, and means for causing an inward movement of the uppergripping means to draw the upper over the edge of the sole before saidgripping means releases the upper. In such an organization it may happenthat there is not sufficient clearance between. the upper gripping meansand the margin of the sole in the overdrawing operation, as a result ofwhich the margin of the sole may be displaced or the overlaying andfastening means may fail to assume effective control of the upper beforethe upper is released by the gripping means. If the upper fasteningoperation is performed under these conditions the upper is likely to beA reason for such lack of clearance may be that in the upper pullingoperation the upper gripping means and the last did not assume theproper relation for effective clearance, or that the margin of the soleis not properly positioned close to the bottom face of the last.

Abnormal conditions such as above men tioned are usually encountered, ifat all, at he toe end of the shoe, and in a well-known type of machinewhich comes automatically to a stop after the upper has been pulled andprior to the fastening operation it is a common practice of operators,if observa- Serial no. 543,869.

tion seems to require it, to impart a further pulling movement manuallyto the toe gripper, or to release the gripper and engage it with theupper nearer the margin of the latter, before again starting themachine. In operating on some kinds of work the operator will alsousually press with his fingers upon the toe end of the sole to insurethat its margin is properly positioned on the bottom of the last.Whether the conditions are proper for the operation of the fasteningmeans thus depends largely upon the care or judgment of the operator,with the result that sometimes an upper is improperly fastened and thework has to be done over again. Furthermore, while in the majority ofcases such corrective procedure on the part of the operator isunnecessary, a careful operator tends to develop the habit of impartingin every instance a corrective movement to the toe gripper, and it maybe also of feeling of the toe of the sole, which diverts the operatorsattention undesirably from other work. It is accordingly a furtherobject of this invention not only to afford better insurance thanheretofore that the upper fastening operation shall be properlyperformed, but also to save the operators time and to relieve him ofunnecessary labor.

To the above and other ends, a feature of the invention consists in anovel organization designed to afford the operator a reliable indicationwhether conditions at the end of the upper pulling operation are suchthat the upper fastening operation will be satisltactorily performed.For the purposes in view the invention, in its illustrative embodiment,)rovides a device which automatically signals the operator in case it isnecessary for him to manipulate the upper gripping means in order toinsure its proper clearance from the edge of the sole. In theconstruction shown the signal device comprises an electric lamp which islighted automatically when the toe gripper has moved enough to insureproper clearance and thus by failure to light indicates to the operatorwhen manipulation of the gripper is required. Combined with the signaldevice in the illustrative machine, and as a further feature of theinvention, there is provided holddown means for the sole which relievesthe operator of any concern as to whether the margin of the sole isproperly positioned close to the bottom face of the last and is a.useful adjunct to the signal device in operating on work where the soleis insecurely fastened to the last or may tend for any other reason tolie at its margin in spaced relation to the bottom of the last.

The above and other features of the invention, including also novelfeatures of the holddown mechanism and various details of constructionand combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described byreference to the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the claims.

The drawing is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section,showing the toe gripper and associated parts of a pulling-over machinein their relation to structure embodying the features of the presentinvention. The invention is illustrated, by way of example, in itsapplication to a type of machine the general organization of which isshown and described invarious prior Letters Patent of the United Statesincluding Patent No. 1,029,387, granted on June 11, 1912 upon anapplication of R. F. McFeely, and accordingly only such parts of themachine as it is necessary to referto for an understanding of thepresent invention are herein shown and described in detail.

It will be understood that the machine comprises grippers for engagingthe upper at the toe end and at opposite sides of the.

f-orepart, together with means which is automatically operative upon thestarting of the machne to impart to the grippers yieldingly throughupdraw springs a pulling movement heightwise of the last, the extent ofsuch movement of the grippers depending upon the force of the springsand the resistance of the upper. In the drawings the toe gripper only isshown, comprising a gripper cas ing 2 and gripper jaws f, the jaws beingautomatically closed on the upper in response tov movement of thegripper operating means. The shoe is positioned relative. ly tothegrippers by means of a sole rest 6 which in the upper pullingoperation receives a slight downward rocking movement to depress thelast within the upper. After the machine has come to a stop with theupper held under tension the operator may move the grippers manually invarious wellknown ways as observation of the work may I show to benecessary. If the toe gripper, for example, needs to be moved farther inthe direction of the pull in order that it may properly clear the marginof the sole in the overdrawing operation or for any other rea son, suchmovement may be imparted to the gripper by pushing upwardly on the frontend of the gripper updraw lever 8. If conditions render it desirablethat the toe gripper engage the upper nearer the marginal edge of theupper, the operator, by use of the lever 8 and the usual gripperreleasing hand lever 10, may relax the pressure of the gripper aws uponthe upper and re-engage the jaws with the upper nearer its edge.Thereafter the machine is started again for the overlaying and upperfastening opera tions which are performed by devices carried on frontandside arms, the front arm being shown at 12. As the front arm 12 movesrearwardly to wipe the margin of the upper over the sole and to positionthe fastening mechanism relatively to the edge of the shoe bottom, thetoe gripper 2 is also swung rearwardly by overdraw springs 13 to drawthe upper inwardly over the edge of the sole, and before the front arm12 completes its rearward movement it engages a finger H which serves tooperate a gripper trippinglatch 16 on the gripper where by the gripperarts 4: are caused to open and release the upper. i

For the purposes of the present invention there is mounted on a bracket18011 the frame of the machinean electric lamp 20 which is automaticallylighted only when thetoe gripper has moved far enough in the directionof the pull to position the jaws a in such relation to the plane of thelast bottom that they will properly clear the edge of the sole as thejaws are swung rear wardly to overdraw the upper. In circuit with thelamp 20 is an insulated contact member 22 on the bracket- 18 and aco-operating contact member 2% comprising a plunger yieldinglycontrolled by a spring 26 in a vulcanite block 28 on the sides of thetoe gripper casing 2. When the plunger 24: makes contact with the member22 in the upward movement of the toe gripper the circuit is closed andthe lamp 20 is lighted. This indicates to the operator that the toegripper has moved far enough to insure proper clearance from the edge ofthe sole. If, on the other hand, the light should fail to appear, theoperator is warned to impart a further movement to the toe gripper or toreadjust the gripper jaws on the upper until the plunger 24 engages themember 22 and causes thev lamp to be lighted. By means of a screw andslot connection 30 the block 28 with the plunger 24: may be adjustedlengthwise of the gripper casing to cause the lamp to be lighted withthe gripper jaws in different relations to the plane of the shoe bottom.

In order to assist in eliminating the need for manual movement of thetoe gripper, the opposite toe gripper jaws 4 are provided respectivelywith pins 32 and 34 which are substantially perpendicular to. thegripping faces of the respective jaws and the ends of which are arrangedto enter openings in the jaws, these pins being arranged to prevent the.jaws from gripping the upper too far from its marginal edge. Theopera-tor is thus assisted in presenting different uppers in the samerelation to the toe gripper jaws, and as a result, if otherconditionsare favorable, the toe gripper will be moved automatically to such apoint that it will properly' clear the edge of the sole in theoverdrawing operation.

To assist further in accomplishing the ob jects of-the invention, themachine is provided with a holddown member 36 which is mountedgui'deways on the rear face of the gripper casing 2 for sliding movementrelatively to the gripper in directions substantially parallel to thedirection of the pull. At its lower end the member 36 has asoie'engaging foot 88 the lowerface of which is curved lengthwise of theshoe so as to deflect the sole down under the foot if this end of thesoleis spaced from the bottom of the last when the shoe is presented tothe H121; chine. By a screw and slot connection 40 the foot 38 isadjustable upwardly or downwardly. The holdrdown member 86is urgedupwardly in its guideway by means of a spring -42 which is connected atits upper end to a pin A ton the gripper casing and at its lower end toa hook 46 on the member 86.

y hen the parts are in starting position, as

illustrated in the drawing, the holddown member 36 is held by the spring42 at its upper limit of movement determined by engagement of its upperend with the pin 44,

and in this position the foot 38 is-immediately behind the toe gripperjaws in positionto engage the margin of the solo at the toe end andpress the sole against the bottom ofthe-last asthe'upper is presentedbetween the open-gripper jaws.

For controlling the holddown member 36 the upper portion 48 of the solerest has a bore 50- ertending lengthwise of the shoe and in generallyparallel relationto the plane-o-fthe forepart of the shoe bottom and inthis bore is slidingly mounted a lOOking member or latch comprising abar 52 which is drawn toward the toc'grippcr casing by a spring 54connected at its op osite ends respectively to-a book 56 on the grippercasing and to pin 5&W11ichis fast on the bar 52 and slides inaslot 60 inthe sole rest part 48 to prevent the bar .52 from turn g At ts front endthe bar 52 i p vided wit latching shoulders 62 which are arranged toengage shoulders. 64 at he lower end of an opening in thaholddownmember36 when he latter is in its dcpr sscd'positiou, so t at the bar aalockst e holddown in p rativ positiom. Thenthe: toe gripper t-hereforereceives i s upper p lling movement t e holddown is maintained in itsdepressed position by the bar 52, and as the sole rest receives itsdownward rocking m v m n the holddown is moved with it by the action ofthe bar, thus maintaining the toe end of the sole in close relation tothe bottom of the last until the upper pulling operation has beencompleted.

In order that the holddown may not in any way interfere with themovement of the overlaying and fastening mechanism in its operation onthe shoe the machine is provided with means for effecting the release ofthe holddown memberto permit its withdrawal by the spring 4-2. For thispurpose the gripper tripping latch 16 is provided with a cam extension66 which at the end of the updraw movement of the gripper is positionedto engage a surface 68 on the front end of the bar 52. When in thesecond stage of the cycle the front arm 12 by its action on the latch 16causes the gripper jaws to open, this latch by its movement thrusts thebar 52 rearwardly so that the bar frees the holddown member 36 andpermits it to spring upwardly out of the way under the influence of thespring 4-2. VJ hen at the end of the cycle the parts are returned tostarting position the holddown member 36 is moved downwardly with thetoe gripper until the gripper arrives in its lowermost position,whereupon the front end of the bar 52 again enters the opening in theholddown member to lock the member in place.

It will be evident that through the provision of the holddown member theoperator is relieved of any concern as to the location of the toe end ofthe sole relatively to the plane of the fore-part of the last bottom,and as far as clearance between the toe gripper and the sole isconcerned has only to consider the position of the toe gripper jaws atthe end of their upper pulling movement. Moreover, the signal deviceprovided relieves the operator of any unceu tainty with respect to theposition of the gripper jaws and therefore assists in avoiding suchimproper fastening of the upper as might be due to an error of judgment,while it also relieves the operator of much unnecessary work.

While the invention is herein illustrated by reference to McKay shoemanufacture, it will be understood that the invention is not limited inutility to the manufacture of any particular kind of shoe, and it willalso be recognized that in many of its novel and useful aspects theinvention is not limited to operations performed at the toe end of theshoe.

Having described the invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with uppergripping means, and mechanism for effecting relative move ment of saidupper gripping means and a last to pull an upper over the last, of a dewvice automatically operative to signal the operator at a predeterminedpoint in said relative movement of the upper gripping means and thelast.

2. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with upper gripping means,

and means for efiecting relative movement of said upper gripping meansand a last to pull an upper in the direction of the height of thelastvand thereafter to draw the upper inwardly over a sole on the bottomof the last, of a device controlled by said relative movement of theupper gripping means and the last in the direction oi the height 01 thelast for signalingthe operator at a point in said relative movement whenthe upper gripping means is in position to clear the margin of the solein the subsequent overdrawing of the upper.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination witha gripperand means for operating it to pull'an upper over a last, of a signaldevice controlled by the pulling movement of said gripper for indicatingto the operator when the gripper has arrived at a predetermined point insaid movement.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a gripperand means for operating it to pull an upper over a last in the directionof the height of the last and thereafter to draw the margin of the upperinwardly over a solo on the bottom of the last, of a deviceautomatically operative to indicate to the operator when the gripper.

has arrived at such a point in its movement heightwise of the last as toclear the margin of the sole in its subsequent ovedrawing movement.

5. In a machine of the class described the i r combination with uppergripping means automatically operative to pull an upper over a last andto come to a stop with the upper held under tension and movablesubsequently to draw the upper inwardly over a; sole on the bottom ofthe last, and means for eii'ecting a manual movement of said uppergripping means in the direction ot the pull after said means has cometo'a stop, oi" a signal device controlled by the pulling movement ofsaid upper gripping means for indicating to the operator when the manualmovement of said gripping means is required to avoid interference withthe margin of the sole in the overdrawing of the upper.

6. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a toe gripper and means for operating it to pull anupper over a last .and thereafter to draw the upper inwardly over a soleon the bottom of the last, said gripper being; manually adjustableheightwise of the last between the upper pulling and the overdrawingoperations of a device automatically operative to indicate to theoperator whether manual adjustment of said gripper. is required to avoidinterference with the margin of the sole in the overdrawing of theupper. 1 j

7. In a'mach'ine of the class described, the a combination with a toegrippermovable to N. pull an upper over a lastlin the direction of I theheight of the last and thereafter to draw a the margin of theuppeiiinwardly o vera sole 011 the bottom of the last, of an electricaldevice controlled by the movement ofsaid: gripper heightwise of the lastfor signaling the operator when the gripper has arrived r at such apoint insaid movement as to clear the margin of the sole in itssubsequent overdrawing movement. 1 a I a 8. In a machine of the classdescribed, the combination with a gripper movable to pull an upper overa last, of an electrical signal device for indicating to theoperatorwhen the gripper has arrived ata predetermined point in itsupper pulling movement, said device comprising co-operating contactmembers one of which is movable with thegripper into engagement'with theother to close the circuit at said predetermined point in the movementor the gripper. 7 a a 9. In a machine of the class described, thecombination with a gripper and means for operating it to pull an upperover. a last in the direction of the height of the last, of an electriclamp and circuit closing connections therefor comprising co-operatingcontact members one of which is carried by the gripper for signaling theoperator when said gripper has arrived at a predetermined point in itsupper pulling movement.

10. In a machine of the class'described the combination with a grippermovable to pull an upper over a lastpot' an electrical signal devicecomprising circuit closing connections controlled by the pullingmovement, of the gripper for indicatingtothe operator when the gripperhas arrived at'a predeter mined point in said movement, said connectionsbeing relatively adjustable to vary the point in the movement of thegripper when the signal is given. i i c i V 11. In a machine of theclass described,- the combination with upper gripping means andoperating mechanism fol-effecting rela-: tive movement of said uppergripping means and a last to pull an upper'inthe directionof the heightof the last'and thereafterto draw the marginof the upper inwardly over asole onthe bottom of the last, of means automatically operative toinsurethat they margin of the sole adjacent to the upper gripping meanswill be closely positioned on the bottomofthe last, anda device forindicating to the operator at the end of the upperpulling operationwhether-the upper gripping means is in position to clear the margin'ofthe solo in the 'overdrawing:015 eration. i

12. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with upper gripping means and operating mechanism foreffecting relative movement of said upper gripping means and a last topull an upper in the direction of the height of the last and thereafterto draw the margin of the upper inwardly over a sole on the bottom ofthe last, of a device arranged to engage the margin of the sole adjacentto said upper gripping means to position said margin close to the bottomof the last in the upper pulling operation, and a device automaticallyoperative to signal the operator at a point in said relative pullingmovement heightwise of the last when the upper gripping means is in suchrelation to the plane of the sole as to clear the margin of the sole inthe overdrawing operation.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a grippermovable to pull an upper over a last in the direction of the height ofthe last, of a member for engaging the margin of a sole on the bottom.of the last adjacent to said gripper to position said margin close tothe bottom face of the last in the upper pulling operation, and a deviceautomatically operative to signal the operator when the gripper hasarrived at a predetermined point relatively to the margin of the solethus positioned.

14:. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a grippermovable to pull an upper over a last in the direction of the height ofthe last and thereafter to draw the margin of the upper inwardly over asole on the bottom of the last, of holddown means automaticallyoperative to position the margin of the sole close to the bottom face ofthe last prior to the overdrawing operation, and. means for indicatingto the operator at the end of the movement of the gripper heightwise ofthe last whether the gripper is in position to clear the margin of thesole in the overdrawing operation.

15. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with a gripper movable to pull an upper over a last inthe direction of the height of the last and thereafter to draw themargin of the upper inwardly over a sole on the bottom of the last, of aholddown member for engaging the margin of the sole adjacent to saidgripper to position said margin in close relation to the bottom face ofthe last in the upper pulling operation, a device automaticallyoperative to signal the operator when the gripper has arrived at such apoint in its movement heightwise of the last that it will clear themargin of the sole thus positioned when it draws the upper over thesole, and mechanism automatically operative to withdraw said holddownmember from the sole.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a toegripper movable to pull an upper over a last and thereafter to draw theupper inwardly over a sole on the bottom of the last, said gripper beingmanually adjustable heightwise of the last between its upper pulling andoverdrawing movements, of a device automatically operative to positionthe margin of the toe end of the sole close to the bottom of the last,and a signal device controlled by the pulling movement of said gripperfor indicating to the operatorwhether manual adjustment of the gripperis required to avoid interference with the margin of the sole in theoverdrawing operation.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a toegripper movable to pull an upper over a last in the direction of theheight of the last and movable thereafter to draw the upper inwardlyover a sole on the bottom of the last, of a holddown member movablymounted 011 said gripper and arranged to engage the margin of the toeend of the sole to position said margin in close relation to the bottomface of the last in the upper pulling operation, a signal devicecontrolled by the toe gripper for indicating to the operator when saidgripper has arrived at such a point in its movement heightwise of thelast as to clear the margin of the sole thus positioned in itssubsequent overdrawing movement, and mechanism automatically operativeto withdraw said holddown member from its operative position.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a gripperfor pulling an upper over a last, and upper fastening means movableinwardly toward the last, of a holddown member movably mounted on saidgripper and arranged to engage the margin of the sole to position saidmargin upon the bottom of the last in the upper pulling operation, andmechanism controlled by the inward movement of said upper fasteningmeans for withdrawing said holddown member from operative-position.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a gripperfor pulling an upper over a last, and upper fastening means movaoleinwardly toward the last, of a holddown member movably mounted on saidgripper, a latch mounted independently of said gripper for maintainingsaid holddown member in position to engage the margin of a sole on thebottom of the last in the upper pulling operation, spring means forwithdrawing said holddown member from the margin of the sole, andmechanism for operating said latch by the inward movement of the upperfastening means to release the holddown member and permit it to bewithdrawn.

520. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a grippercomprising upper gripping jaws for pulling an upper over a last, and atripping device on said gripper for causing the jaws to release theupper, of a holddown member for engaging the margin of a sole on thebottom of the last to position said margin upon the bottom face of thelast in the upper pulling operation, and mechanism controlled by saidtripping device for withdrawing said holddown member from its operativeposition.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a grippercomprising upper gripping jaws for pulling an upper over a last, and atripping device on said gripper for causing the jaws to release theupper, of a holddown member movably mounted on said gripper, a latch formaintaining said holddown member in position to engage the margin of asole on thebottom of the last in the upper pulling operation, springmeans for withdrawing said holddown member from operative position, anda device responsive to the operative movement'of said tripping devicefor operating said latch to release the holddown member.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a toegripper for pulling anupper over a last, of a holddown member movablymounted on said gripper, a locking member mounted independently of saidgripper for movement lengthwise of the last and arranged to maintainsaid holddown member in position for engagement with the margin of thetoe end of the sole in the upper pulling operation, spring means forwithdrawing said holddown member from operative position, and means formoving said locking member rearwardly to release the holddown member.

23.-In a machine of the class described, the combination with a toegripper for pulling an upper over a last and a shoe bottom rest forengaging a sole on the bottom of the last, of a holddown member movablymounted on said toe gripper, a member movably mounted on said shoebottom rest and arranged to lock saidholddown member in position forengagement with the toe end of the sole in the upper pulling operation,spring means for withdrawing said holddown member from operativeposition, and means for imparting movement to said locking member tocause it to release said holddown member.

24:. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a toegripper for, pulling an upper over a last, a tripping device on saidgripper to cause it to release the upper after the upper pullingoperation, and

a shoe bottom rest for positioning a shoe relatively to said gripper, ofa holddown member movably mounted on said gripper, a member movablymounted on said shoe bottom rest for locking said holddown member inposition to engage the margin of a sole on the last in the upper pullingoperation, spring means for retracting said holddown member, andmechanism operated by said tripping device for imparting to said lockingmember movement to release the holddown member.

25. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a toegripper for pulling an upper over a last, and overlaying and fasteningmeans for the upper, of a'holddown member movably mounted on saidgripper, a locking member mounted independently of said toe gripper formovement lengthwise of the last and arranged to maintain said holddownmember in position for engagement with the margin of the sole in theupper pulling operation, a spring for urging said locking memberforwardly drawing said holddown member from engagement with the sole,and mechanism controlled by said overlaying and fastening means forimparting rearward movement to said locking member to cause it torelease mechanism for withdrawing said holddown member from operativeupper has been pulled.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification. -l

JOSEPH GOULDBOURN. VVILFRID THOMAS MINETT.

position after the .0 toward the gripper, spring means for with i

